TIKK NEWS Spring 2005

Texas Isshinryu Karate Kai Perfecting Character Since 1991 Expect Nothing, Be Ready For Anything 8th Gasshuku promises Change of routine

By LAURA MURRAY Yon Kyu magine a weekend you don’t have to cook. You I don’t have to cart the kids to three baseball games, two soccer games, a birthday party and music lessons. You don’t have to listen to the doorbell or the phone constantly ringing. It’s a weekend for you. You get to focus on you. You get to forget your worries (or at least put them Shihan Robert Kristensen concludes the 2004 temporarily on hold). You get to “hang” with people Gasshuku at the Spring Shiai at Camp Summit. who have some of the same goals as you: they like to work hard and play hard. adding that the Gasshuku is equivalent to about three And at the end of the weekend, your mind, your months of training for the average person. body and your spirit will be refreshed. While he realizes students may feel tired when Being able to provide undivided attention for the Gasshuku is over, he says he hopes they will feel three days (April15-17) is one reason the annual growth and refreshed in mind, body and spirit. Gasshuku is so important to karate training at Texas Shihan brought the idea to have a Gasshuku Isshinryu Karate Kai, says Shihan Robert Kristensen. “You can totally focus on yourself,” he says, (See GASSHUKU, page 4) Evans, Masur win top tournament honors Two Texas Isshinryu Karate standing martial artists throughout Kai black belts took top honors at the state. a Nov. 6 tournament benefiting Competitors also got to see the Texas Martial Arts Hall of the highest ranking black belt in Fame. the Isshinryu World Karate Asso- Ni Dan Matt Evans was the ciation outside of Okinawa. Han- grand champion in kata while shi William H. Duessel of Pitts- Yon Dan Adam Masur was the burgh, a 9th degree black belt, grand champion in sparring at the tournament held at the Nautilus (See TOURNAMENT, page 6) Sports Club and organized by TIKK. Inside About 100 people from Shihan’s Corner……………….2 throughout north Texas and Hous- World Championships…….…..3 ton competed in the tournament Winter Shiai……...……………8 benefiting the Texas Martial Arts Power Lifting…………….…..10 Grand Champions Ni Dan Matt Hall of Fame, a non-profit organi- Senseis’ Corner…….....……...11 Evans, Sensei Adam Masur zation which recognizes out- Page 2 TIKK NEWS SPRING 200 5

Shihan’s corner Happiness! Your Happiness Depends on You!

appiness is a frame of mind. Some of us do things for others: this makes us H happy and others happy. Some do things just for themselves: this makes them happy and others may be jealous, etc., or they could be happy, too? Your happiness is what you create. It is all inside of you. You can search forever. The final answer is only you have the answer, and that is inside of you. So don’t spend all your life searching, it is right in your control. Don’t worry, be happy!!!

-Shihan Kristensen

Calendar

April 15-17…….…....Spring Gasshuku, Camp Summit June 15…………………....Mrs. Carol Gue’s Birthday April 17……….…...……..Spring Shiai, Camp Summit June 24-25...IWKA World Championship Tournament May 1……...…Demo at Denton Arts and Jazz Festival June 26…………………….Mr. Matt Evans’ Birthday May 4………….…...…….Mrs. Susan Harris’ Birthday July 18……………..…….Mr. Chris Miller’s Birthday May 5……….…..…..….Mr. Dan Prenevost’s Birthday July 22…………Kyoshi Robert Kristensen’s Birthday May 11………….….....Mr. Tommy Thomas’ Birthday Aug. 27……...…….…..Summer Shiai, Location TBA May 24…………….…...Mrs. Jeannie Rupp’s Birthday Sept. 24……….First Martial Arts State Championship May 30……...... Hanshi William H. Duessel’s Birthday Tournament, Location TBA

TIKK NEWS TIKK NEWS is published periodically by karate ka of Texas Isshinryu Karate Kai, established in 1991, Denton and is distributed to students at all the school’s Brickhouse Gym dojos and to others interested in TIKK activities. (940)390-0192

Publisher Flower Mound / Lewisville Shihan Robert Kristensen Nautilus Fitness Center, 601 Crosstimbers Editor (972)315-1358 Ni Dan Matt Evans Assistant Editor Haslet Yon Kyu Laura Murray First Baptist Church of Haslet (972)315-1358 Coppell Dojo (Main) 1203 Crestside, Suite 230, Coppell, TX 75019 Richardson (972)315-1358 Richland Bible Fellowship Church Visit us on the web: www.txikk.com (469)387-1463

SPRING 2005 TIKK NEWS Page 3 40 TIKK students to compete in world championships

Texas Isshinryu Karate Kai will have a strong showing at the Isshinryu World Karate Associa- tion World Championship Tour- nament this summer with at least 40 students planning to compete. The world championships, which are held every two years, will be held June 24-25 in Akron, Ohio at the Quaker Square Crowne Plaza. Grand Master Kichiro Shi- mabuku, the son of Isshinryu founder Tatsuo Shimabuku and current head of Isshinryu karate, will travel from Okinawa and will conduct a training seminar on June 24. The seminar for upper ranks Allan Wallander bowls to help pay the way to world tournament. (brown and black belts) will be tion of those who are most active and synchronized kata. from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. while the in their support of Grand Master At the last championships in seminar for all lower ranks (white Shimabuku and the world cham- Dallas in 2003, TIKK brought to purple) will be from 3 p.m. to 4 pionships. home 96 trophies, which included p.m. Formal bow-in for the tour- 14 first place trophies in kata, five A banquet will be held from nament which will be held June first place trophies in kumite and 6:30 to 9 p.m. on June 24 and also 25 will be at 9:30 a.m. with com- one first place trophy in weapons. will feature an IWKA presenta- petition in kata, kumite, weapons ‘N Focus Demo team works to promote TIKK to community Texas Isshinryu Karate Kai’s junior demo team perform in the synchronized kata division. ‘N Focus ended 2004 with a demo during a Coppell In its inaugural year, the team also performed at High School basketball halftime show. the Sports Extravaganza at a mall in Denton, a car “I am very proud of show in Lewisville, a Cub the way everyone has come Scout meeting in Richard- together as a team,” said son, the Gator Fest in Sho Dan Jeff Kelley, who Flower Mound and Huffines co-directs team activities Arts Trails in Richardson. with Sensei Debbie Garrett. Team members in- “All of the kids have clude: Carson Dickey, Jack worked very hard and have Pergantis, Allan Wallander, done an outstanding job,” Daniel Midkiff, Perry Lo- Mr. Kelley said. pez, Johannes Kroll and More demos to pro- Shane Murray. mote TIKK are in the works Selection of new team and the next demo will be at Demo team members perform at Coppell High members will be in July. the Denton Arts and Jazz School basketball game halftime show. Anyone who knows of Festival May 1. an event or organization Team members attending the Isshinryu World which might be interested in having the team perform Karate Association World Championships in June will should contact Mr. Kelley or Sensei Garrett.

Page 4 TIKK NEWS SPRING 2005 Gasshuku... (From Page 1) every time in push-ups and sit-ups,” he says. “This showed me it is never about strength or power, just from New Jersey. There, they had week-long camps pure will and doing what you yourself are capable of.” for kids and then had weekend Gasshukus, which The Gasshuku brings on many memories from were great for the dojos and the camaraderie, bringing inspirational to hysterically funny. One story that is everyone together as a group and reinforcing their almost always brought up when people reminisce karate, Shihan says. about past Gasshukus is about dojo basketball. “The higher ranks inspired the lower ranks and Sho Dan Steve Gellman says he will never forget the lower ranks gave the higher ranks a push,” he about the lesson a group of students learned about says. He took the best of what he saw in New Jersey Gasshuku etiquette at the first Gasshuku. and incorporated it here in Texas. Excited to start the day, about 10 of the students The first Gasshuku for TIKK was held in April arrived for the first morning workout. It was early and 1998. About 17 kyu ranks and four black belts at- they noticed a basketball hoop and some basketballs. tended that first Gasshuku. Now it’s become an annual What harm could there be in shooting a few hoops tradition that everyone looks forward to and has at before the Gasshuku workouts got started? least tripled in size with about 50 students attending They soon learned this was not a good idea. last year along with 16 black belts. And Shihan let them know that. “They didn’t With this Gasshuku being the eighth one for realize that it’s a karate event and if you come to a TIKK, Shihan believes it has become somewhat rou- karate event, you should try to concentrate on the ka- tine for some. He wants to change that and make this rate because you can play basketball just about any year different from those in the past. place. Starting with the theme for this year “Expect “When you have the opportunity train with so Nothing, Be Ready for Anything,” Shihan doesn’t many martial artists, what you should be sharing is want students to assume what they are going to do. martial arts stories or kata or things that happen in the “I want people to be on their toes,” he says. class,” he says. Shihan’s goal for the Gasshuku is to see every- That first Gasshuku started with some 100 push- one reach their 200 percent or their potential. “Success ups and a lesson about Gasshuku etiquette. The for me is seeing everybody push themselves to their “unwritten” rule is to show up 20 minutes before a limit and go beyond and sincerely not cheat them- workout and start stretching or something, not playing selves. basketball. “When I see people cheating, it’s a downer for The first Gasshuku also was special because me. When I see people really pushing that much far- Sensei Don Bizzell earned his black belt, making him ther, I get excited because those people are really the first student in TIKK history to go from white belt growing,” he says. to Sho Dan. The best way to prepare for the Gasshuku is sim- Of course, eight black belts have followed in Mr. ply, Shihan says, “Be the best you you can be.” Bizzell’s footsteps by earning their black belts at a He does not recommend overdoing it on the Gasshuku. One or more Sho Dans have been achieved cardio or strength training because students will be at every Gasshuku except 2002 when Mr. Tony Palos giving their own 200 percent, which is different for was about to be tested, but tore his ACL and was not everyone. able to continue his testing at that time. “You can’t be anybody, but yourself,” he says, Nevertheless, Mr. Palos showed a determination adding that it doesn’t matter what other people can do. seen in all TIKK black belts. “Mr. Palos was hobbling “You’re competing against yourself. Everybody is a around on crutches at the beginning of the Gasshuku,” champion because they are all competing against recalls Sho Dan Tina Palos. “But by the last workout, themselves. How you win is pushing yourself past he was running with his bag in one hand and crutches your own limits.” in the other.” Ni Dan Matt Evans recalls learning that very She says he showed that “Quitters never win. concept at the “Eye of the Tiger” Gasshuku. He says Winners never quit.” he trained very hard for that Gasshuku because of his Mr. Palos wasn’t the only one to work a experience from the past one. Gasshuku on injured status. Also in 2002, Mr. Gell- “No matter how psyched I got, how strong I felt and how hard I pushed, Mrs. (Susan) Harris beat me (See GASSHUKU, next page)

SPRING 2005 TIKK NEWS Page 5 The Gasshuku…….According to Sensei Ishmael ll of these are but just a few of the things that Shimabuku. A happened at the various Gasshuku over the That time that Sempai put on the Gi...with Black Pip- years. They are not in order, nor is any names, dates, ing...another first!!! etc. used. There could be "test" questions in the future. Those times students...tried to "watch"...a Sho Dan test. The first Gasshuku....A certain Sensei was promoted The "toothbrush/toothbrush" Kumite. to Sho Dan. That new Genieuchin Kata. There was a skit...Monty Python....the sound The "Village People"....TIKK...with Mr. "T." of..."horses." Those poems, songs, and skits that hit our hearts, Neville and Ronstadt showed up, and sang. minds, as well as spirits. The Dojo Band played so many songs. That VET...that sang about..."WAR." Mickey/Minnie Mouse was a topic of discussion. The song..."Born In The USA"...which just came on Three Ik Kyus went through final testing...a first. my radio...strange, huh!!! There was some...."basketball"...a first...and last! Along with..."I Won't Back Down!!!" We had students from New Jersey, Nevada and parts The "Perfect Cheer." of Texas come and train. Ah, those "Bushido" runs.. "Charlie Brown," Richard Simmons, Sonny & Cher, Those "late night"...as well as "early morning" visits!! The Banana Comic, AC/DC, and various "other" per- There were those "Ladies in Black"...as well as Jugle. sonalities, have graced our stage. So many demos...by students as well as Black Belts. The Standing Ovation...a first...for Sonny & Cher. The good 'ol...figure "8." There was a "face kata"...a "talking kata"...and ..."the The "light stretching" times. Look." Tha Gasshuku Banner. We had that COLD March. Perfect Pictures..taken...all the time...THANK YOU! A Ni-Dan...made the title...Sensei. All those boards...and let's not forget the BRICKS!!! Some "lumber jacks" showed up. That number "17." Those...Martial Arts shoes...with the "thin" soles. And so very much more....memories....Those special There was that...Box...With a certain...Red & White Sunday Morning moments...that will last forever!!! Obi in it!!! The smiles, tears, and those who we remember, and The colored pictures...of Shihan Jenkins, and Master always will. Gasshuku.... (From Page 4) Dan, probably will be remembered for its freezing man broke his foot during the Friday morning work- temperatures. out only to return later in the Gasshuku with his casted And then a tornado warning for the Copper Can- foot and doing Sanchin kata in a chair. He finished yon area brought 2004 Gasshuku participants to the the Gasshuku on crutches, but not before he received main lodge where the kitchen and all the knives are an award and gave flowers to the cooks. for “safety” only to be distracted by Shihan who led Mr. Gellman still talks about how good the cook- the group in tensho. ies are at the Gasshuku. In 2000, a thunderstorm flooded the basketball Surf ‘N Turf became the featured food in court, but after it passed, the talent show went on. Gasshuku 2004, at least for Shihan and Sempai Maria The talent show has offered too many funny Kristensen, who with the help of the whole dojo, cele- skits to mention, Shihan says. brated their 10th wedding anniversary on April 23. “There are so many things people do that they With decorations, flowers and music during never would have done before. But they let their guard every break (Mr. Palos stalked them with the boom down so they are totally experiencing the yin and the box), Shihan and Sempai had a catered dinner on the yang,” he says. “If you work out hard, you’ve got to patio that is not likely to be duplicated or forgotten. play hard. You can’t do one more than the other.” Many Gasshukus have seen beautiful Texas blue The best way to benefit from the Gasshuku, Shi- skies, but a few brought some less than perfect condi- han says, is listen to Shihan. “If I say a Gasshuku is tions. The 2003 Gasshuku, when Mrs. Palos, Mrs. good, I hate to say it, it’s good!” Jeannie Rupp and Mr. Gellman were testing for Sho Page 6 TIKK NEWS spring 2005 Tournament... (From Page 1) rhythms and speed throughout. somewhere if you haven’t looked “This is all done through relaxa- first – don’t rush kata.” conducted a seminar on tourna- tion.” Finally, he told students not ment kata and helped judge the Hanshi also stressed the im- to be disappointed if they do not tournament. portance of looking first. “To win. “The main thing is you com- Hanshi, 77, is the teacher of miss a look is like missing a peted.” Shihan Robert Kristensen and is punch,” he said. “Why move TIKK results are: one of the few people in the world Weapons still living who trained with Is- Adult Black Belt 3rd Dan & up shinryu karate founder Tatsuo Adam Masur 1st Shimabuku of Okinawa. Don Ishmael 3rd During the seminar, Hanshi Adult Black Belt 1st & 2nd Dan told students to implement what Matt Evans 1st they learn immediately or they Tony Palos 2nd could forget it. Tina Palos 3rd “What we’re looking for is Kata Kumite to perfect ourselves for better Adult Black Belt 3rd Dan & up health in mind, body and spirit,” Don Ishmael 2nd --- he said, adding that karate stu- Adam Masur 3rd 1st dents are already ahead of the Vince Olivier --- 3rd game because they train and can Adult Black Belt male 1st & 2nd focus. Dan Posture is very important in Matt Evans 1st 1st kata, Hanshi said. Some people Tony Palos 2nd --- get head heavy and he said it is Tommy Thomas 3rd 3rd like having a 12- to 15-pound Hanshi William H. Duessel Adult Black Belt female 1st & bowling ball on top of the spinal discusses tournament kata 2nd Dan column. while Shihan Robert Kris- Susan Harris 1st 1st Kata is like music, he said, tensen watches. Left, Daniel Jeannie Rupp 2nd --- adding it should have different Midkiff performs his kata while Tina Palos 3rd 3rd Neal Willis and Andrew Carol Gue --- 2nd Keeton, below, kumite. SPRING 2005 TIKK NEWS PAGE 7

Ni Dan Susan Harris performs her kata while Dean Collins, below, also does his kata. Nate Eazor and Ethan Shah admire the trophies they won for kata. Kata Kumite Kata Kumite Adult Advanced Adult Intermediate Jim Fairhurst 1st 2nd Andrew Black 1st 1st Mike Cohen 2nd 3rd Jim Wallander 2nd 2nd Cathy Fairhurst 3rd 1st Greg Midkiff 3rd --- Kent Kirkpatrick --- 1st Glen Dullenty --- 3rd Teen Advanced Adult Beginner Tyler Murray 2nd --- Brent Logan 1st 2nd Whitney Fairhurst3rd 2nd Tracy Dickey 2nd 2nd Kyle Murray --- 3rd Paula Reynolds --- 3rd Adult Intermediate Advanced Reggie Logan --- 1st Laura Murray 1st 2nd Joey Marcella --- 3rd Margaret Myers 2nd 3rd Junior (12-13) Beginner Glenn Gibbs 3rd --- Dean Collins 1st --- Junior (12-13) Intermediate Kendall Kirk- Advanced patrick 2nd 2nd Cody Davenport 1st 2nd Teresa Hulsey 3rd 1st Daniel Midkiff 3rd 2nd Ben Collins --- 3rd Garrett Molsbee --- 1st Peewee (9-11) Beginner Tim Hendrix --- 2nd Britton Ford 1st 2nd Peewee (9-11) Intermediate Ad- Andrew Keaton 2nd 3rd vanced Walter Spin 3rd --- Carson Dickey 2nd --- Mini Peewee (7-8) Beginner Perry Lopez 3rd 1st Brianna Lopez 1st --- Johannes Kroll --- 2nd Deanna Rupp 2nd 3rd Shane Murray --- 3rd Chance Cooley 3rd --- Mini Peewee (7-8) Intermediate Mighty Mites (Under 6) All Advanced Ranks Allan Wallander 1st 1st Nate Eazor 1st 2nd Morgan Hulsey --- 2nd Ethan Shah 2nd 3rd PAGE 8 TIKK NEWS SPRING 2005 Winter Shiai Brown belts Jim Fairhurst, Mike Cohen earn Ik Kyu rank; Daniel Midkiff, Laura Murray named Karate-ka of the Year Nearly 100 Texas Isshinryu Perry Lopez Karate Kai students turned out for Daniel Midkiff the Winter Shiai at the Nautilus in Allan Wallander Flower Mound Dec. 4. Green belt with a solid black Students enjoyed a morning stripe: of training before demonstrating Steve Kroll what they have learned and mak- Dan Melendez ing rank in front of family and Anthony Petrusky friends in the afternoon. A festive Jennifer Wiederkehr holiday party with drawings for Greg Midkiff gifts followed. Green belt: Daniel Midkiff was named Andrew Black the Junior Karate-ka of the Year Tracy Dickey while Laura Murray was named Deanna Rupp the Senior Karate-ka of the Year. Cole Mootz Jim Fairhurst and Mike Shea Giese Cohen became the highest rank- Mike Cohen and Jim Fairhurst Yellow/Green belt: ing brown belts at TIKK with Miranda Banales make Ik Kyu rank. their promotion to Ik Kyu. Of Peter Gonzalez course, the next step for them will Mark Hendrix Paula Sue Reynolds be the esteemed Sho Dan rank. Yellow belt: Cathy Fairhurst and Kent Laura Murray Glenn Gibbs Andrew Keeton Kirkpatrick also moved up in rank Mike Gonzalez to become Ni Kyus, or the second Margaret Myers Purple belt: Nate Eazor level in brown belt. Ethan Shah Belt changes include: Garrett Molsbee Cody Davenport Briana Lopez Purple belt with a solid black Michelle Bizzell stripe: Blue belt: Dakota Wilson Britt Ford

Daniel Midkiff is named Junior Karate-ka of Year. Laura Murray is named Senior Karate-ka of Year. SPRING 2005 TIKK NEWS Page 9

Training hard…..

Top right, Mike Cohen and Jim Fairhurst do panther crawls while Paula Reynolds, top left, does her kata at the shiai.

Breaking Boards…...

Chance Cooley attempts to break the board at the Winter Shiai. Making rank…..

Mr. Matt Evans gives Perry Lopez his blue belt. Sensei Bizzell awards Michelle her yellow belt. Page 10 TIKK NEWS spring 2005 Power Lifting! Not just for meatheads anymore

By MATT EVANS Friday: Speed/Dynamic/Lower Ni Dan Sunday: Speed/Dynamic/Upper The three main lifts that we train toward are he image that came to my head when I thought bench press, dead lift and squat. These three core lifts T of power lifters was the gargantuan men on require the use of almost all muscles in the body, so American Gladiators and World’s Strongest Man, but training toward them works the entire body. BENCH? in the past three months I have developed a very dif- Entire body you say? Yes, when done in the proper ferent view of these unique athletes. position, it works everything, for you do not develop I have been lifting weights for about 15 years power unless you use your entire body. Ask me more and have a pretty good basic understanding of the if you want to know why because it will make this technique and method to lifting properly. I can even article wayyyyyy too long to describe the set up. find a good basic program to Max effort is a day follow to help me progress. where you work until However, I never got you fail. You do two the results I wanted, and I repetitions of the core never seemed to get lift you are doing that stronger. I have gone day and do sets until through a number of trainers you fail at the two, then who would run me through you do singles until you something I already knew or fail. The goal is to try to would teach me something challenge yourself to do new, but it didn’t challenge more each week you me enough. They were used repeat the exercise. The to teaching basic lifting and common problem now basic alone. is, do you do the same My previous trainer thing each week or introduced me to cleans, change? Change it all snatch, and push jerk which over the place. There helped me become more are different types of explosive with what strength bars to use, rubber I had, but it was not quite bands (not the office enough (plus he ended up kind, but larger and leaving the gym, anyway). stronger ones!) can be The newest partner I added to the bar, even workout with is a power 100 pounds worth of lifter, and he saw right away chain is put on the bar that I didn’t like to play around in the gym; I liked to to make it more challenging and unstable to work the work and work hard. He invited me to a group of muscle in various ways. weightlifters that works out at a time I am normally Speed/dynamic days are different because your still out cold sleeping. After working out a few times focus is not to do the most weight, but to practice be- with them, I was hooked. ing explosive. If your maximum bench is 300 pounds, The concept of power lifting is fairly simple with you may work only 150 pounds in this workout to precise technique. My lifting partners mainly follow maintain focus on explosiveness. Do eight to 10 sets the concepts laid out by Louie Simmons from of two repetitions and do them very quickly while still Westside Barbell and Charles Poliquin. Lots of infor- holding form. After the sets are done, do singles that mation can be found on t-nation.net and other sites increase in weight until you fail. This helps build devoted to power lifting. The format we follow has speed with your lifting power. Changes in bars, bands four workouts a week. and chains are also included within this ideal. Monday: Max Effort/ Lower The next article about power lifting will include Wednesday: Max Effort/Upper some workouts and more information regarding this very aggressive method of weightlifting. SPRING 2005 TIKK NEWS Page 11

Senseis’ corner

ave you seen this person? Have you met the various World Champion Black H Have you seen that Black Belt with that amaz- Belts in the Kai? ing side kick in Sunsu Kata, or the one who does that Ever meet the Sensei who started as a White Belt with great jumping front kick in Chinto Kata.? Shihan...another first!!! Or the one who does those side kicks that would really What about the Sensei who built the display...for hurt ya? the...Texas Martial Arts Hall of Fame? How about the one that is so fast, and just made Grand What about the Black Belt who is the "historian?" Champion, or the one who is so great with the Have you seen, met, talked to, listened to, been taught "retraction," that you can hear the "snap" ALL the by, heard of, or been near one of the time and who also is a Grand Champion? Black Belts....if not...why not? How about the "Vet," who has TWO Purple Make it a point to learn from everyone, watch every- Hearts...isn't a youngster...and is great at Kumite? one, listen to everyone. Do you know the one who has a Masters In Education, You will be amazed at the talent, knowledge, experi- or the one who has an MBA? ence, and the years that the various Black Belts have What about the "Husband and Wife" Black Belts who within the Texas Isshinryu Karate Kai!!! teach? By the way, have you looked at the pictures of the Did you know we have a Doctor who is a Black Belt? Black Belts on the wall of the Hombu Dojo...if you What about the "two" who "tested" together for Sho- have, or have yet to see them...look at the eyes...that Dan...a first...do you know them? will answer a lot of questions you may have. What about the Black Belts who travel hundreds of Moreso, look at the picture that is above the line of miles to train, as well as teach? Black Belts...that person is in all of us...and we are all How about the "three" who also "tested" to- a piece of him...That is My Sensei....Kyoshi Kris- gether...another first? tensen. Know the Black Belt who helped start the "demo May I write about all of you...as a Black Belt...one team"...met him? day. Have you met or know who the Sempai of the Kai is? —Sensei Ishmael

n the dojo, I am always hearing "I can't." So keep ow can you be "Ready for Anything?" The an- I this simple quote from Eleanor Roosevelt in mind: H swer is to build a strong unshaking spirit. Use "You must do the thing you think you cannot do." discipline and self-denial to help you get in shape for —Sensei Garrett the Gasshuku in April. Practice your art diligently. These things will help enhance your spirit. Build and stretch your cores muscles, and enhance your aerobic ur dojo has only five requirements for the karate capacity, then your body will be stronger. In this way, O students and we are constantly being graded on your body and your spirit will be "Ready for Any- each of those requirements. Although they are all im- thing." portant, I decided to remind you of one of them. —Sensei Bizzell “Dedication to the martial arts, your dojo and your sensei.” What does this mean? Well, there are many interpretations and meanings, but in our dojo it means f you want more for others than you do for your- call your sensei or instructor when you must miss a I self, you will have many returns. class, participating in dojo events, keeping the dojo —Sensei Olivier neat and clean, paying strict attention to the instructor and in particular, no talking on the dojo floor. If you wish to talk, wait until class is over and you are off the ere is a quote from Epictetus, a Roman slave dojo floor. The dojo floor signifies learning and hard H and philosopher (55 AD - 135 AD): “First say work and it must be respected. Let’s all succeed by to yourself what you would be; and then do what working hard on accomplishing each requirement. you have to do.” —Sensei Kristensen —Sensei Masur

Page 12 TIKK NEWS SPRING 2005

Mind, Body, Spirit...and Yoga "You can't get relaxation without breathing- You can't get speed without relaxation- You can't get power without speed." — Hanshi Duessel "Strength cannot be free to work unless balanced with relaxation." —Hanshi Duessel "Asanas (postures) have been evolved over the centu- ries so as to exercise every muscle, nerve and gland in the body... But their real importance lies in the way they train and discipline the mind." —BKS Iyengar "As long as there is breath in the body, there is life. Jack Asel tests his Sanchin on new Mom Ni Dan When breath departs so too does life. Therefore, regu- Crystal Asel just 45 minutes after birth. late the breath." —Hatha Yoga Asels welcome new addition

I am beginning to understand why Black Belt is Relaxation and breathing are no longer just tech- merely the beginning of my training. It has been the niques to improve kata. opportunity to look within and look beyond. Its goal, Jack Thomas Asel gave new meaning to breath- the perfection of character, utilizes all the aspects of ing and relaxation as he barreled into the world at a karate training. The longer I train, the greater the com- hefty 12 pounds 8 ounces on March 15 after making plexity of the study, yet the more simple the outcome new mom Ni Dan Crystal Asel endure 12 hours of seems to be. It is a journey I have truly become. labor. The importance of my Sensei cannot be overstated. New dad Sho Dan Trey Asel said Jack was born —Sho Dan Steve Gellman at 6:34 p.m. at Baylor Grapevine Hospital and both Mom and son are doing well.